Adjustable Trailer Hitch Security Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus for use with an adjustable trailer hitch assembly to selectively cover the side holes of the hitch assembly&#39;s hitch mount, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the fastening system used to secure a trailer connection to the hitch mount comprises a moving cover portion connected to a fixed attachment portion. The cover portion is defined by a rectangular box shaped, hollow housing having an open elongated side opposite an elongated side wall and an open bottom side opposite an top side wall. The attachment portion is defined by a rectangular plate body having a top lip and a bottom lip, with a plurality of attachment apertures in its body. The cover portion is hinged to the attachment portion, enabling it to rotate from a open position to a closed position in which the cover portion and the attachment portion form a rectangular enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a conventional adjustable trailerhitch assembly.

FIG. 2A is a back perspective view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the far side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the closedposition.

FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the near side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the closedposition.

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the near side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the openposition.

FIG. 3B is a front perspective view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the near side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the openposition.

FIG. 4A is a side elevational view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to an adjustable trailer hitch mount inaccordance with the present invention and in the closed position.

FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the far side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the closedposition.

FIG. 4C is a side perspective view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the near side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the closedposition.

FIG. 5A is a side perspective view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the near side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the openposition.

FIG. 5B is a front perspective view of an adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus attached to the near side of an adjustable trailerhitch mount in accordance with the present invention and in the openposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a conventionaladjustable trailer hitch assembly 10 is shown as a conventional trailerconnection 11 attached to a channel style adjustable trailer hitch mount12. In conventional adjustable trailer hitch assemblies 10, it isunderstood that the trailer connection 11 is attached to hitch mount 12by passing a bolt fastener through holes on both the trailer connection11 and the hitch mount 12, with such holes aligned to enable the boltfastener to pass through from the distal side of the assembly to theproximal side thereof, and securing the bolt fastener in place with alocking fastener. In such arrangements, conventional straight bolts andU-bolts are commonly used for bolt fasteners, while threaded lockingnuts and castellated nuts with cotter pins are commonly used for lockingfasteners.

As shown in FIG. 1, the trailer connection 11 is defined as a ball mountand is attached to the hitch mount 12 through a two bolt fasteners 13(embodied as either a U-bolt or two straight bolts). The ends of thebolt fastener 13 are secured with a threaded locking nut 14. But becausethe locking nuts 14 remain exposed, the entire fastening system remainsvulnerable to being tampered with or stolen. Indeed, this conventionaladjustable trailer hitch assembly 10 provides no protection from apasserby or anyone simply un-bolting the trailer connection 11 andattach it to their own hitch mount.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, an adjustable trailer hitchassembly having an adjustable trailer hitch mount 100 with an adjustabletrailer hitch security apparatus 110 enables a user to selectively coverthe side holes of the hitch mount 101, thereby preventing unauthorizedaccess to the fastening system used to secure a trailer connection (notshown) thereto. The adjustable trailer hitch mount 100 is shown as achannel style hitch mount with two vehicle mount holes 102. Theadjustable trailer hitch security apparatus 110 is shown having a movingcover portion 111 connected to a fixed attachment portion 112. The coverportion 111 is defined by a rectangular box shaped, hollow housinghaving an open elongated side opposite an elongated side wall 113 and anopen bottom side opposite an top side wall 114. The attachment portion112 is defined by a rectangular plate body having a top lip 115 and abottom lip 116, with a plurality of attachment apertures 117 in itsbody. The cover portion 111 and the attachment portion 112 are sizedsuch that when the cover portion 111 is positioned against theattachment portion 112 with its open elongated side facing the platebody and the open bottom side contacting the bottom lip 116, arectangular enclosure is formed with the plate body covering the openelongated side and the bottom lip covering the open bottom side. Such arectangular enclosure forms the structure in which the adjustabletrailer hitch security apparatus 110 secures the fastening system of anadjustable trailer hitch assembly, thereby restricting access thereto.

In the preferred embodiment, the cover portion 111 is movably connectedto the attachment portion 112 through a hinge joint 118. The hinge joint118 is disposed on the edge of the bottom lip 114 of the attachmentportion 112 and at the bottom of the elongated side wall 113 of thecover portion 111, connecting the bottom lip 114 and the elongated sidewall 114 and providing a fixed axis through which the cover portion 111can be rotated relative to the attachment portion 112.

Through the rotation enabled by the hinge joint, the cover portion 111can be moved into a closed position relative to the attachment portion112 and into an open position relative to the attachment portion 112.The closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, is defined bythe cover portion 111 positioned against the attachment portion 112,forming a rectangular enclosure wherein the bottom lip 116 covers theopen bottom side, the plate body covering the open elongated side, andthe top lip 115 is adjacent to the top side wall 114. The open position,as exemplified by FIGS. 3A and 3B, is defined by the cover portion 111being moved out of the closed position to expose the plate body of theattachment portion 112 and the and attachment apertures 117 therein.

In alternate embodiment, the cover portion 111 is configured to moverelative to the vertically attachment portion 112 by sliding. In such anembodiment, the attachment portion 112 and the cover portion 111 includea plurality of tracks on which the cover portion 111 slides and thecover portion 111 is moved to an open position by sliding it verticallyup to expose the plate body of the attachment portion 112 and the andattachment apertures 117 therein.

The attachment apertures 117 allow the adjustable trailer hitch securityapparatus 110 to be attached to the side of a target conventionaladjustable trailer hitch mount 100 that utilizes a bolt based fasteningsystem that is secured on the side of the hitch mount, such as a channelstyle adjustable hitch mount. In channel style hitch mounts, a pluralityof vertically spaced holes allow a trailer connection to be moved to oneof a plurality of vertical positions at a given time and secured in thatposition, thereby accounting for different sized trailers. As such, theplate body of the attachment portion 112 includes a plurality ofattachment apertures 117, enabling it to be positioned on the side ofthe target adjustable trailer hitch mount 100, with the attachmentapertures 117 aligned with the particular hitch mount holes 101 intendedto be used to mount the trailer connection to the target adjustabletrailer hitch mount 100. As will be discussed in more detail below, byaligning the attachment apertures 117 in this manner, the attachmentportion 112 can be fastened to the side of the target adjustable trailerhitch mount 100 without the need of additional equipment because thebolt fasteners (not shown) that are passed through the particular hitchmount holes 101 to secure the trailer connection can simply beadditionally passed through the attachment apertures 117 aligned withthe particular hitch mount holes 101 as well. In this regard, it iscontemplated that the attachment portion 112 may be attached in thismanner to the target adjustable trailer hitch mount 100 on the side thebolts exit, on the side the bolts enter, or both (whether successivebolts are arranged to enter and exit from the same side or to alternatesides on which they enter and exit).

A locking system 119 is used to selectively lock the cover portion 111to the attachment portion 112 when in the closed position. In thepreferred embodiment, the locking system 119 is defined as aconventional mechanical lock, embodied as a cylinder lock (withcorresponding key), integrated into the cover portion 111 such that,when the cover portion 111 is in the closed position, its locking boltmechanism is captured by a receiving channel 120 integrated into theattachment portion 112. In alternate embodiments, the locking systemdefines a link or a ring integrated into the attachment portion 112 thatis accessible from the exterior of the cover portion 111 when in theclosed position, enabling it to receive a padlock. In other alternateembodiments, the locking system 119 define aligned apertures in the topside wall and the top lip that receive a padlock of an aligned aperturein the top side wall and the top lip that house a cylinder lock.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 5A and 5B the adjustable trailerhitch security apparatus 110 is shown attached to the adjustable trailerhitch mount 100 through a conventional square shaped U-bolt 121.Arranged as shown, passing through the body of the adjustable trailerhitch mount 100, it is appreciated that the U-bolt 121 in thisconfiguration would be used along with locking fasteners to form afastening system that connects a trailer connection, such as a ballmount (not shown), to the adjustable trailer hitch mount 100. As opposedto such conventional set ups, however, when the adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus 110 is employed to restrict access to the componentsof the fastening system on a side of the adjustable trailer hitch mount100, the ends of the bolt fasteners, shown as the U-bolts 121, areadditionally passed through the aligned attachment apertures of theattachment portion 112 and the locking fasteners, shown as nylon lockingnuts 122 are fastened to the ends of the U-bolt 121 on the side of theattachment portion 112 opposite the adjustable trailer hitch mount 100.Thus, when the cover portion 111 is moved into the closed position, thelocking nuts 122 are covered. Furthermore, when the locking system ofthe adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus 110 engaged to lock thecover portion 111 in the closed position the locking nuts 122 arerendered inaccessible to anyone lacking the key or token to disengagethe locking system.

It is appreciated that alternate locking fasteners, such as castellatednuts with cotter pins or cotter pins alone (used with bolts havingcorresponding holes), may be employed in place of locking nuts and thussecured inside the adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus. Such maybe advantageous if conventional straight bolts are used and leftuncovered so that if one seeking unauthorized access turned the bolts,the locking fastener would not come off.

Although U-bolts are generally desirable because they prevent the boltsfrom being turned on the side opposite the locking fasteners in order toloosen or remove the locking fasteners, it is additionally appreciatedthat alternate bolt fasteners, such as any number of conventionalstraight bolts, may be employed in place of or with a U-bolt. It iscontemplated that the determination of which bolt fasteners and lockingfasteners to employ will generally by dictated by the adjustable trailerhitch mount and the desired trailer attachment as the elongated body andplurality of attachment apertures of the adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus configure it to be used in substantially allconventional arrangements.

In one embodiment, the adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus maybe used on the side of the bolt fasteners opposite where the lockingfasteners are attached, thereby restricting access to the bolt fastenersand preventing them from being turned on the side opposite the lockingfasteners in order to loosen or remove the locking fasteners. Such anembodiment, may be desirable if conventional straight bolts and lockingnuts are employed.

In one embodiment, the adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus maybe used on both sides of the adjustable trailer hitch mount.

In one embodiment, the adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus maybe used with the vehicle mount holes to enhance the security of theattachment of the adjustable trailer hitch mount to the vehicle.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

1. An adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus, comprising: a channelhitch mount; a trailer connection attachable to the hitch mount solelyby receiving at least one bolt fastener which passes through the trailerconnection and hitch mount, wherein the hitch mount is configured toenable the trailer connection to be attached thereto in one of aplurality of discrete, selectable positions; an attachment portionadapted to be attached to the hitch mount solely through receiving eachof the at least one bolt fastener which attach the trailer connection tothe hitch mount; and a cover portion movably integrated with saidattachment portion and defining a hollow housing having at least oneopen side, wherein the cover portion is configured to be selectivelyplaced in a first position relative to said attachment portion in whichthe cover portion encloses the at least one bolt fastener that attachesthe trailer connection to the hitch mount and is received by theattachment portion in said hollow housing.
 2. The adjustable trailerhitch security apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow housing is arectangular box having an open elongated side opposite an elongated sidewall and an open bottom side opposite a top side wall.
 3. The adjustabletrailer hitch security apparatus of claim 2, wherein said attachmentportion defines a plate body having a plurality of discrete attachmentapertures sized to directly correspond to the size of the at least onebolt fastener and configured to enable the attachment portion to beattached to the hitch mount in one of a plurality of discrete,selectable positions.
 4. The adjustable trailer hitch security apparatusof claim 3, wherein: said plate body is rectangular and includes abottom lip extending therefrom; and said cover portion is connected tosaid attachment portion by a hinge joint disposed on an edge of thebottom lip and on the elongated side wall.
 5. The adjustable trailerhitch security apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover portion ismovably integrated with said attachment portion through a hinge joint.6. The adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus of claim 3, whereinsaid plurality of attachment apertures enable the attachment portion toreceive at least one of the at least one bolt fasteners.
 7. Theadjustable trailer hitch security apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidcover portion is additionally configured to be selectively placed in asecond position relative to said attachment portion in which the atleast one bolt fastener that attaches the trailer connection to thehitch mount and is received by the attachment portion not enclosed inthe hollow housing.
 8. The adjustable trailer hitch security apparatusof claim 1, additionally comprising a locking system integral with saidattachment portion and cover portion and adapted to lock the coverportion in the first position.
 9. The adjustable trailer hitch securityapparatus of claim 3, wherein said attachment portion additionallyincludes a top lip. 10.-12. (canceled)
 13. The adjustable trailer hitchsecurity apparatus of claim 3, wherein said attachment apertures areequally spaced in a linear orientation on the plate body. 14.-17.(canceled)
 18. An adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus,comprising: a channel hitch mount; a trailer connection attachable tothe hitch mount by solely receiving at least one bolt fastener whichpasses through the trailer connection and hitch mount, wherein the hitchmount is configured to enable the trailer connection to be attachedthereto in one of a plurality of selectable vertical positions; anattachment portion defining a plate body adapted to be attached to thehitch mount solely through receiving each of the at least one boltfastener which attach the trailer connection to the hitch mount; a coverportion movably integrated with said attachment portion through a hingejoint and defining a hollow housing having at least one open side,wherein the cover portion is configured to be selectively hinged to afirst position relative to said attachment portion in which the coverportion encloses the at least one bolt fastener that attaches thetrailer connection to the hitch mount and is received by the attachmentportion in said hollow housing; said cover portion additionally beingconfigured to be selectively hinged to a second position relative tosaid attachment portion in which the at least one bolt fastener thatattaches the trailer connection to the hitch mount and is received bythe attachment portion not enclosed in the hollow housing; and a lockingsystem integrated with said cover portion and said attachment portion,wherein said locking system enables the cover portion to be locked inthe first position.
 19. The adjustable trailer hitch security apparatusof claim 18, wherein: said first position is defined by the coverportion being positioned against the attachment portion to form a hollowenclosure; and said second position is defined by the cover portionbeing moved out of the first position such that the at least one boltfastener that attaches the trailer connection to the hitch mount and isreceived by the attachment portion not enclosed in the hollow housing.20. The adjustable trailer hitch security apparatus of claim 18, whereinthe attachment portion includes a plurality of discrete attachmentapertures sized to directly correspond to the size of the at least onebolt fastener and equally spaced in a linear orientation on the platebody, thereby enabling the attachment portion to be attached to thehitch mount in one of a plurality of discrete, selectable verticalpositions.